You can comp with this, or you can comp with that
"Vocal comping" is a painstaking, somewhat maddening process that can be like tunneling thru a rabbit hole of your innermost insecurities. Most people do not like the sound of their voice, and I am no exception. So imagine someone has recorded your voice, and not just speaking either, singing words of some import, words that may be slightly embarrasing themselves, and then you must listen to each phrase over and over again, picking out the ones with the most accurate pitch and phrasing, then compiling these disparate phrases into a single "take." I hope that doesn't shatter any illusions about singers and the recording process, but it is the way it is. It can be delerium-inducing but the result is a good, presentable vocal that can stand the test of time, or at least a few minutes. I went under the knife earlier tonite on Saboteur and nearly lost my shit, but we persevered and now Colombo's getting the treatment for his harmony overdubs.
All I wanna do is play guitar. Where did all this singing business enter into it?
That Dylan doc last nite was pretty good, speaking of singers. I doubt they did as much comping back in the day, the technology was just so different (i.e. no computers to make cutting and pasting easy). People say Dylan was no singer but I think he actually has some good pitch, especially on mid-period Highway 61 shit. Listen to From A Buick 6 to hear what I mean. But yeah, I think Scorcese is kind of a tool, but his movie was pretty good. Really though, it's the old footage that makes it cool, so Scorcese doesn't have all that much to do with it. I don't think anyone was fucking cooler than Bob Dylan circa 1965. Just that look he had, like on the cover of Blonde on Blonde, with the big hair and the gaunt cheeks and thousand-mile stare. Sure it was all a consequence of drugs but just as an image it's fucking cool as fuck.
I want to play some fucking guitar man! Come on guys, get yer shit together! :)
Sing it till your throat bleeds
Another night, another song. Tonight was all about Incandescent and after a few hours of feedback, guitar wrangling and screaming, we have what's shaping up to be a great album opener.
I'm tired and my throat hurts but the songs are turning out so well thus far it's almost frightening. Like, something's just
bound to go wrong. We're not this lucky. Pray for us!
In the meantime, a few more pics.
Back in the Saddle
We've been doing vocals and guitar overdubs today, since about 2 o'clock (shoulda been 1 - thanks G train). No matter, as we speak A Scene Unseen is blaring from the speakers and my oh my what kind of rock n' roll beast have we wrought? Lupo an I are giddy with excitement (Colombo had to work today). As if that wasn't enough, we have a complete mix of Electrocute as well. Vocals were started on Saboteur but my voice gave out, so it shall be saved for another day. Nice guitar leads though.
It's always weird to emerge from the windowless basement studio and find that there is still a world going about its business "on the outside." I feel very conspiratorial, like "oh, if you only knew what we've been cooking up." Or what if the entire planet was obliterated in a nuclear war and we manage to survive because the studio is technically in a bomb shelter and then the only music left would be our record and we'd become the world's only rock n' rollers and everyone would have to love us.
Shit, I've lost my mind. Sara is playing now, it sounds very pretty. And, by someone's good graces, my singing isn't complete crap. Nice.
We're an American band
"American Dad" is such a disappointment after "Family Guy."
So Day 2 has passed and we have accomplished exactly what we set out to do, live tracking all 10 songs for the album.
Recording finished up when Take 3 of
Sara was declared a winner around 7PM. I admit to a certain frustration with the taping of this song, mainly with having to do the live vocal as well as a guitar track at the same time. Pressure on! Maybe it's not "frustration" exactly, more like a kind of enervation, just cuz it's a somewhat emotional song and singing it three times in a row is a bit draining. But the funny thing is, the last vocal take seemed to possess just the right amount of exhaustion to make it effective. These are the nice, unintended things that make recording a treat.
For all y'all
A Scene Unseen fans, may I tell you that you will
not be disappointed with the final product.
If you're in need of a laugh, Google "Carl Lewis music video." You can thank me later.
Next session will most likely be Thursday.
Until then........
It's been a long, long, long... long time
We have been here for 9+ hours and are going a little bit delirious and squirrel-eyed. Squirrel-eyed? Does that make even the slightest sense?
ANYWAY.... after some troubles in the beginning, we locked in and have accomplished exactly what we hoped to do today.
For those keeping score, the songs tracked today are..................
Incandescent
A Scene Unseen
As Old As We Are
Idiot attorney
Red Curtain
Saboteur
I am exhausted and incredibly happy. and now there's a party to go to.
until tomorrow........
And they're off!
Recording has begun! I wonder what "non-rock" people think the recording process is like. I can tell you that it can be very much a "hurry up and wait" situation. For example, for a variety of reasons, it is now 4:15, we have been here since noon and have just finished live tracking for the 1st song. It's no problem, as most of the early time is devoted to horribly boring technical things like getting guitar sounds and setting up mics. But once you've got that basic set-up things tend to move rather quickly.
On that note, break time is over. Back to work. Bye bye.
Waiting Waiting Waiting
i am trying to write various things but it is no use.
we are going into the studio on Saturday to begin the big numero uno first full-length album-except-now-you-call-them-CDs. or something.
we are all very excited, even more so after a productive final rehearsal last night, but i wish the day would damn well arrive already. it seems we've been waiting forever. for. ev. ver.
i am anxious because while i believe it is right and proper and important to record this album at this time, i wonder if anyone really cares and if anyone will buy it. best to put the blinders on..... full steam ahead!
